Royal Mail, which recently changed its name to International Distributions Services PLC (LSE:IDS) (IDS), announced a large new parcel conveyor in Gatwick Mail Centre that supports its shift to a parcels-focused company.
According to a statement, the conveyor “directly supports Royal Mail’s transformation into more of a parcels-led business to meet the changing demand of its customers.”
Able to process roughly 3,000 parcels per hour, the machine is designed to handle bulkier items, fitted with a dimension, weight and scanner system.
“This provides Royal Mail with a rich source of more accurate data that enables managers to more efficiently pack and route collection vehicles,” the company said.
“By investing in machines that can process bulkier and heavier parcels, we are putting in place the building blocks for higher levels of customer tracking and transparency,” said chief operating officer Grant McPherson.
The centre promises improved customer tracking for parcels weighing up to 30kg, said Royal Mail, which will remain the name of its UK letters and parcels business.
A second large parcel conveyor will open in Royal Mail’s South Midlands Mail Centre, with other launches nationwide potentially in the pipeline.
South Midlands and Gatwick were chosen to be the first two with parcel conveyors because they process the most oversized parcels in its network, it said.